2013 Men's Soccer Schedule

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - With two NCAA tournament teams and five programs that won 10 or more games last season on the 2013 schedule, Head Coach Carl Rees and the Fairfield University men's soccer team will need to be focused and ready each time they take the pitch. But with most of the starting lineup returning and an experienced bench set to contribute, the Stags appear ready to accept the challenges that the schedule will provide in the upcoming year.

The Stags open the 2013 campaign at home as Coach Rees will host his alma mater Hartwick College on August 30. Following the opener, Fairfield will embark on a three-game road trip that sends the team to Northeastern University on September 7, Yale University on September 13, and the University of Massachusetts on September 18.

The squad returns to Lessing Field for three home games, the first coming against Division I newcomer UMass Lowell on September 24. This year will represent the River Hawks soccer team's first campaign as a Division I athletic program. The program posted a 15-6-1 overall record a year ago, the most wins by any other opponent on the Stags' 2013 schedule.

Long Island University is the middle game on the home stand, coming to campus on September 28. Fairfield will welcome Monmouth University to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on October 5 as the Hawks play their first-ever MAAC men's soccer game. Monmouth comes off a double-digit win season, posting an 11-4-4 mark in 2012.

The Stags play three of their next four conference games on the road, starting with an October 9 match up with Manhattan College. Fairfield will host Canisius on October 12 before going to Iona College on October 16 and Niagara University on October 19. The schedule brings Siena College to Fairfield's home field on October 23 and Rider University on October 26.

Road games are sandwiched around the team's final regular-season home game of the season. After an October 30 games with MAAC newcomer Quinnipiac, Fairfield takes to Lessing Field for a November 6 game with Saint Peter's. The regular-season comes to an end on November 9 at Marist College.

Fairfield University will serve as host of the 2013 MAAC tournament which takes place on November 15 and 17. The winner of the tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament later in November.

The Stags finished the 2012 season with a 7-8-1 overall record and a 3-4 MAAC mark. The team returns several of its top scorers from a year ago, namely senior Reco McLaren junior Jordan Ayris. McLaren made quite an impact in his inaugural season with the Stags, scoring a team-high seven goals with one assist for a team-leading 15 points. Ayris also reached double figures in scoring, registering four goals and two assists for 10 points.